Purpose: To work on offensive and defensive transition in a 5-on-5 competitive, game-type situation. Drill: Players 1 through 5 are on offense. Players x1 through x5 are on defense. The teams will stay on offense or defense for entire 2 minutes. The drill begins with the offensive team taking the ball at the top. They will run the offense and attempt to score. On a made field goal, the offensive team will take the ball out of bounds and break the other way down the court. The defensive team … [Read more...]
The Getaway Free Throw Fast Break Offense
The Getaway Free Throw Fast Break is a controlled transition offense that is initiated after either a missed or a made free throw. As you can see in the diagram, three players will line up to rebound the opponent free throws. You may, however, choose to put four players in the lane to give yourself a better chance to secure the rebound. It's up to you (and up to how well your opponent chooses to crash the boards on the free throw!) Either way, the overall action is going to be the same except … [Read more...]
Progressive Transition Drill
Purpose: To work on transition offense and defense in a progressive manner. The Progressive Transition Drill works on all the various situations a team will face in a game; 1-on-0, 2-on-1, 3-on-2, 4-on-3, and 5-on-4. Develops conditioning and decision-making in a competitive, game-like situation. Drill: In this diagram, 'W' = white jersey and 'D' = dark jersey. If your players wear reversible jerseys, then 4 players will be in darks and 5 players will be in whites. This full court drill sets … [Read more...]
5-on-0 Secondary Break Drill
Purpose: To work on the secondary break and to develop the ability to get into your offensive sets off of transition. Drill: Five offensive players space themselves around or near the lane. When the coach yells 'shot!', the players box out their imaginary defenders and the coach makes or misses a layup. One of the players grabs the rebound, at which point the players will run their secondary break the other way. (If the shot is made, the ball should then be inbounded -- see next … [Read more...]
Eagle Transition Drill
Purpose: To work on the transition from offense to defense and defense to offense. The offensive players work on getting back quickly to stop or slow down the offense. The defensive work on the transition to offense by pushing the ball and attacking the defense. This drill requires players to hustle and anticipate. Drill: 3 players on offense and 3 players on defense. Additional players are in the 'outlet' position out of bounds. An offensive player begins the drill by shooting the … [Read more...]
3-on-2 with Trailer Drill
Purpose: To prepare the defenders when transitioning back on defense in a disadvantage situation. The emphasis of this drill is for defense, but offensive players will get to work on the transition offense part of the game as well. Drill: Six players are needed for this drill, along with a coach or manager at the baseline. 3 defensive players are positioned along the free throw line extended with their backs to the coach at the baseline. 3 offensive players are positioned in front of the … [Read more...]
Ball Ahead Transition Drill
Purpose: To develop the foundation of your transition offense by practicing the outlet pass and full court finish. Also a useful conditioning drill. Drill: Two players and two coaches or managers are needed for this drill. The players start as shown (O1 by the backboard with the ball and O2 in the outlet area on the wing). A coach or manager stands on each side of the court at about the midcourt line. O1 begins by tossing the ball off the backboard, grabbing the rebound, then making an outlet … [Read more...]
4-on-2-on-2 Drill
Purpose: To teach offensive transition principles, poise, and teamwork in a fun and fast-paced drill. Drill: Team O1 starts at midcourt with the basketball and goes 4 on 2 versus Team X1 Two players from Team X1 begin at midcourt outside the sideline. When O1 begins across midcourt, the two extra defenders sprint to the midcourt circle and then become 2 more defenders to make it 4 on 4. Team X1 rebounds a miss (or takes it out of bounds after a made shot) and goes 4 on 2 against Team O2, … [Read more...]
3-Man Straight Break Drill
Purpose: To teach the players how to properly fill the lanes on a fast break. Drill: This is a simple drill that can be used to work on fast break techniques. The wing players stay wide and make a sharp cut to the basket while the middle player executes a jump stop at the foul line and makes a good pass to a cutting wing. The wing players should plant their outside foot and make a sharp cut to the basket. The players can go down in groups of three or they can go down and back in their … [Read more...]
Cycles
Purpose: To teach and develop transition offense in a game-like situation. The focus and emphasis for this drill is on the offense but it will also work on transition defense and is a fabulous drill to build game-type conditioning. Drill: This drill requires 10 players (5 on offense, 5 on defense). Two defenders (X4, X5) wait out of bounds on the opposite baseline, while three defenders (X1, X2, X3) wait out of bounds on the starting side of the court. The five offensive players begin on this … [Read more...]